Quantrill adds split-finger to arsenal
Starting pitcher chases bounce-back season
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. >> Cal Quantrill is not reinventing himself as a starting pitcher, but he hopes his new split-finger fastball will add another dimension to his repertoire.
“I think it’s going to be a good pitch,” the Rockies’ right-hander said Friday. “Right now, I’m just learning when and how I want to use it. But I like what I’m seeing and I worked on it a lot this offseason.”
For the uninitiated, a splitter is thrown like a fastball but with a grip where the baseball is wedged between the index and middle fingers. When thrown correctly, the pitch moves like a fastball but drops dramatically off the table as it nears home plate.
Baltimore super closer Felix Bautista used the pitch to great effect last season, utilizing the splitty 68% of the time. Last season, major league hitters slashed .191/.232/.285 against splitters. Unfortunately for Bautista, he injured his elbow and underwent Tommy John surgery last fall.
Don’t expect Quantrill to unleash the pitch nearly as often as Bautista did, but the splitter should give Quantrill an edge once he masters it.
“Not everyone can throw a splitter,” manager Bud Black said.
“It’s sort of unique. It’s a very hard pitch to command. You have to have big enough hands, based on finger length. To get the true benefits of the pitch, you have to be able to … get the proper spin on it to get the downward action in the hitting area.
“Cal seems to be a guy that has the capability to throw that pitch. I’ve watched it here in a couple of bullpens and during live batting practice yesterday. I think it’s got real potential to be a good pitch for him.”
The Rockies, needing to prop up their starting pitching corps, acquired Quantrill in a November trade with Cleveland. Quantrill, who turned 29 earlier this month, was terrific in 2022 when he went 15-5 with a 3.38 ERA over 32 starts and helped the Guardians win the American League Central.
Shoulder issues, however, turned 2023 into a lost season. He posted a 5.24 ERA over 99 2/3 innings and had two stints on the injured list. The Guardians designated him for assignment before the Rockies traded for him.
“I made the mistake of trying to pitch through what I was dealing with, for too long,” Quantrill said. “I paid the price for it, but that’s OK. By the end of the year, I think I got my shoulder to where it needed to be and I immediately saw an uptick to everything.”
Quantrill went 2-1 with a 2.76 ERA in his six September starts, limiting hitters to a .230 average and giving up just three home runs.
“If you look at his last six starts, that was the best he was all year,” general manager Bill Schmidt said. “He was pretty good and that showed us that he was healthy.”
Black has been impressed by what he’s seen from Quantrill in the early stages of spring training.
“I like his fastball, and he can manipulate the spin on his breaking balls,” Black said. “If the (splitter) comes into play and works as a good action-type changeup for him, that will be a plus. He’s got good stuff. I’m excited for him.”
KB’S role
Black moved Kris Bryant from right field to first base late last season after Bryant returned from injuries. Heading into camp, Bryant seemed entrenched at first, but Black now says that Bryant could play first base or right field, as well as fill as the designated hitter this season. It all depends on how the 26-man roster shakes out.
The Rockies have several young players competing for playing time at first base and right field. Elehuris Montero can play first, Michael Toglia and Hunter Goodman can man first and right field, and Sean Bouchard is the likely starter in right.
Also, veteran Charlie Blackmon will be the primary designated hitter and will start in right field on occasion. Black believes Bryant will produce no matter his role.
“I don’t worry about KB,” Black said. “The thing I know about KB is he has a lot of pride. KB is filled with that. He’s a pro with great talent and he’s built the right way.”